Apparatus for feeding a band of overlapped blanks to a separator

ABSTRACT

In an envelope making machine a band of overlapped blanks is conveyed from an adhesive drier to a blank separator by a refeeder. The refeeder has pairs of inner and outer endless belts that are driven at the same speed with the outer belts overlying portions of the inner belts. The belts engage the band of overlapped blanks therebetween and convey the band from the drier to the separator. is positioned beneath an idler roll carriage that has an end release roll adjacent the separator. The separator includes pull-out rollers with a radially extending pull-out segment on one roller that engages the front or leading edge of the blank and accelerates the front blank to separate it from the band of overlapped blanks and feed it in timed relation to the subsequent elements of the envelope forming apparatus. When the length of the blank changes or when the dimension of the conveyors in the drier and refeeder increase with increased operating temperatures of the machine, an adjustment is required in the phasing or timing of the blanks delivered to the separator so that the pull-out segment continues to engage the front leading edge of the blank. The disclosed refeeder adjusts the timing of the blanks by changing the effective length of the refeeder conveyor and thus the distance that the band of overlapped blanks travels from the drier to the separator. The length of the refeeder conveyor is changed by moving two reference frames or drums relative to each other. Movement of one reference drum changes the effective length of the path followed by the blanks and movement of the other reference drum changes the effective length of the inner belts. The outer belts have spring loaded take-up idlers that proportionately adjust the effective length of the outer belts to conform to that of the inner belts. An endless chain drive mechanism for the inner and outer belts is connected to the pair of reference drums so that the effective length of the chain is adjusted with the reference drums. The pitch diameter of the belt drive pulleys and belt drive sprockets is substantially the same so that the chain velocity remains constant and the phase relation of the chain drive changes with the endless belts.

United States Patent Helm [ 51 Mar.21,1972

[54] APPARATUS FOR FEEDING A BAND OF OVERLAPPED BLANKS TO A SEPARATOR[72] Inventor: Herbert W. Helm, Hollidaysburg, Pa.

[73] Assignee: F. L. Smithe Machine Company, Inc.,

Duncansville, Pa.

[22] Filed: Mar. 16, 1970 [21] App1.No.: 19,848

Primary Examiner-Joseph Wegbreit Assistant Examiner-Bruce H. Stoner, Jr.Attorney-Stanley J. Price, Jr.

[57] ABSTRACT In an envelope making machine a band of overlapped blanksis conveyed from an adhesive drier to a blank separator by a refeeder.The refeeder has pairs ofinner and outer endless belts that are drivenat the same speed with the outer belts overlying portions of the innerbelts. The belts engage the band of overlapped blanks therebetween andconvey the band from the drier to the separator. is positioned beneathan idler roll carriage that has an end release roll adjacent theseparator. The separator includes pull-out rollers with a radiallyextending pull-out segment on one roller that engages the front orleading edge of the blank and accelerates the front blank to separate itfrom the band of overlapped blanks and feed it in timed relation to thesubsequent elements of the envelope forming apparatus. When the lengthof the blank changes or when the dimension of the conveyors in the drierand refeeder increase with increased operating, temperatures of themachine, an adjustment is required in the phasing or timing of theblanks delivered to the separator so that the pull-out segment continuesto engage the front leading edge of the blank. The disclosed refeederadjusts the timing of the blanks by changing the effective length of therefeeder conveyor and thus the distance that the band of overlappedblanks travels from the drier to the separator. The length of therefeeder conveyor is changed by moving two reference frames or drumsrelative to each other. Movement of one reference drum changes theeffective length of the path followed by the blanks and movement of theother reference drum changes the effective length of the inner belts.The outer belts have spring loaded take-up idlers that proportionatelyadjust the effective length of the outer belts to conform to that of theinner belts. An endless chain drive mechanism for the inner and outerbelts is connected to the pair of reference drums so that the effectivelength of the chain is adjusted with the reference drums. The pitchdiameter of the belt drive pulleys and belt drive sprockets issubstantially the same so that the chain velocity remains constant andthe phase relation of the chain drive changes with the endless belts.

8 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures Patented March 21, 1972 INVENTORS. Herb ertW Helm BY 1) I k 5 ATTORNEY APPARATUS FOR FEEDING A BAND OF OVERLAPPEDBLANKS TO A SEPARATOR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of TheInvention This invention relates to envelope or bag making machines andmore particularly to a refeeder device for conveying a band ofoverlapped blanks to a separator.

2. Description of the Prior Art In an envelope or bag making machine thesealing flaps of the blanks are gummed with adhesive while the blanksare conveyed as a band in a close overlapped relation with the seal flapportion of each blank exposed. The blanks are dried while being conveyedthrough a drier and then conveyed to a separator by a refeeder typeconveyor. At the separator the blanks are separated and accelerated by arotating pullout segment that is arranged to engage the front edge ofthe blank in timed relation with the subsequent aligning, scoring andfolding devices. The blanks must, therefore, be delivered to theseparator in timed relation with the pullout segment and the otherfollowing envelope forming devices. Several methods of adjusting thetiming of the blanks have been disclosed in the prior art.

Since the separator is drivingly connected to the other subsequentenvelope forming devices, the pullout segment and all of the followingdevices can be advanced or retarded when timing adjustments are requiredfor different sized blanks. This requires stopping the machine,disengaging the clutch elements between the devices, changing the timingand engaging the clutches. This procedure is time consuming andrelatively complexv Further, problems are encountered where the phasingor timing changes occur during operation due to temperature changes inthe machine. Another method of advancing or retarding the separator andthe subsequent envelope forming devices is to include a differentialdrive for the en velope forming devices that would permit adjustmentwhen the machine is running. Again, this type of mechanism is relativelycomplex and expensive.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,122,233 discloses apparatus for pivoting the refeedersection about a pivot point adjacent to the lower paper line. With thisarrangement the release rolls adjacent the pullout segment must beadjusted with each adjustment of the refeeder section and it isdifficult to both sense and correct the phasing of the blanks with anautomatic control similar to that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,379,103.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an envelope orbag making machine that has a pair of spaced blank treating stations. Aconveyor is positioned between the stations and is arranged to convey aband of overlapped blanks from the first station to the second stationand deliver the blanks to the second station in timed relation with theactuation of a blank engaging device in the second station. The conveyorhas an effective conveying portion that engages and conveys the band ofoverlapped blanks. A conveyor drive is provided that moves the conveyorand band of overlapped blanks at a fixed preselected speed. The blankengaging device upon actuation engages, separates and accelerates theleading blank from the moving band of overlapped blanks and feeds theseparated blank to another blank treating station. The blank engagingdevice is arranged to engage the front end of a blank periodically withfixed periods of time therebetween. The conveyor includes means toeither increase or decrease the length of the effective conveyingportion to thereby vary the distance traveled by the blanks in the bandof overlapped blanks from the first station to the second station.

With this arrangement it is now possible to adjust the phase and timingof the blanks delivered to the separator while the machine is eitherrunning or not running. Further, small incremental adjustments may bemade in the timing while the machine is running to compensate fordimension changes caused by increased temperatures during operation.

Accordingly, the principal object of this invention is to provideapparatus for adjusting the timing and phase delivery of a bond ofblanks to a separator device.

Another object of this invention is to provide a phase adjusting devicethat may be easily motorized and automated for minor correctiveadjustments during operation of the machine.

These and other objects and advantages of this invention will be morecompletely disclosed and. described in the following specification, theaccompanying; drawings and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGS. 1 and 2 are similar schematicviews in elevation of an envelope machine refeeder section illustratingdiagrammatically the endless conveyor belts, drive chains, blankseparator and blank aligner.

FIG. 1 is positioned above FIG. 2 and clearly illustrates the manner inwhich the drum members and idler sprockets mounted on movable centersare moved relative to each other to increase and decrease the pathfollowed by the band of overlapped blanks.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,122,233 and3,379,103 disclose envelope making machines with the various elementsfor forming the envelopes and the disclosures in these patents areincorporated by reference herein.

As discussed in the above patents, envelope machines include a feedermechanism that discharges a continuous stream of blanks in an overlappedrelation with the seal flap portion exposed to an endless conveyor. Theoverlapped blanks are conveyed on the conveyor past a seal flap gummermechanism and adhesive is applied to the exposed flap portions of thecontinuous band of overlapped blanks. The band of blanks is next fed toa drier where the adhesive on the seal flaps is dried. The overlappedblanks are usually slightly separated prior to entering the drierportion of the machine to prevent the blanks from adhering to eachother.

The overlapped band of blanks is transferred from the conveyor extendingthrough the drier to a refeeder mechanism that feeds the overlappedblanks in timed relation to a separator or an individualizing mechanismwhere the blanks are separated and fed as individual blanks to envelopeforming elements and the individual blanks are scored, the side flapsfolded over the blank body portion, adhesive applied to the bottom flap,and the bottom flap folded over and adhesively secured to the side flapsto form a folded envelope. The folded envelope is then fed to a transferdevice and stacked on a receiver.

The elements of the envelope forming apparatus are interconnected andoperate in timed relation for continuous operation of the envelopemachine. It is essential that the individual blanks be separated fromthe band of overlapped blanks and fed into the envelope formingapparatus at a definite stage in the envelope forming apparatusoperational cycle. An operational cycle can be conveniently defined asone revolution of the envelope forming elements.

A suitable feeder mechanism is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,799,497 andsuitable belt type conveyor mechanisms are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.3,122,233. Both the individualizer or separator and aligning devices maybe similar to that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 1,896,867. A. suitablescorer is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,101,268 and a suitable side flapfolder is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 1,839,492.

The separator or individualizer mechanism is connected to relation tothe subsequent elements of the envelope forming apparatus. One of thepullout rollers has a blank engaging pullout segment that engages thefront edge of the leading blank and exerts a pulling force on the blankand accelerates the blank to separate it from the bond of overlappedblanks.

The refeeder that conveys the band of overlapped blanks from the drierto the separator includes pairs of endless tapes and an idler rollcarriage adjacent the pullout segment. The end idler roll next to thepullout rollers is a release roll and is spaced from the pullout rollera distance substantially equal to the distance from the leading edge ofthe seal flap to the trailing edge of the side flaps so that thetrailing edges of the side flaps are released by the release roll aninstant after the seal flap front edge of the same blank is engaged bythe pullout segment of the pullout rollers. Where changes are made inthe length of the blanks or where the path of the blanks is increaseddue to increased temperatures during operation of the envelope machine,it is necessary to adjust the timing of the blanks as they are fed tothe pullout segment.

Referring to the drawings, there is schematically illustrated a portionof an envelope machine generally designated by the numeral that has adrier section 12, a refeeder section 14, a separator section 16 and analigner section 18. The drier section 12 includes a drying chamber witha lower endless conveyor chain 20 extending around an end idler sprocket22. An upper endless drier chain 24 extends around an end drive sprocket26 and cooperates with the lower conveyor chain 20 to convey the band ofoverlapped envelope blanks therebetween through the drier section 12.

Adjacent to the drier section 12 is the refeeder section 14 that conveysthe band of overlapped envelope blanks from the drier section 12 to theseparator section 16. The refeeder section 14 includes a pair of innerbelts 28 and a pair of outer belts 30 that are supported on a pluralityof fixed idler rolls and also about an adjustable enlarged drum 32. Itshould be understood that a plurality of idler rolls mounted on a frameand forming an arcuate section could be substituted for the drum 32similar to the group of idler rolls illustrated in U.S. Pat. No.3,l60,08l.

The drum 32 is adjustably arranged to move horizontally a preselecteddistance as indicated by the arrows in FIG. 1. The pair of inner belts28 also extend around a second adjustable drum 34 that is movablehorizontally in a manner similar to drum 32. Again, a series of rollsmounted on a movable frame could be used in lieu of the illustrated drum34. The principal requirement of this arrangement is that the drums orframe members 32 and 34 may be moved toward and away from each other.For clarity, the idler rollers that are mounted on fixed centers and arethus fixed on the machine frame are indicated with a and the rollersthat are adjustable and are mounted on movable centers are indicated bythe horizontal line with the double arrow.

Referring to the path followed by the endless inner belts 28, the beltsextend around an idler pulley 36 adjacent the drier section 12, thenupwardly around the periphery of the large drum 32 and toward theseparator section 16 where it extends around the inner belt drive pulley38 and around other fixed idler pulleys 40 ad 42. The inner belts 28then extend around the movable and adjustable drum 34, fixed centeridler pulley 44 and back to idler pulley 36.

Similarly, the outer belts 30 extend around a fixed idler pulley 46adjacent the drier section 12 and then extend upwardly around theadjustably large drum 32 to an outer belt drive pulley 48. The outerbelts 30 are held against the drive pulley 48 by means of idler pulley50 and then extend around a fixed center idler pulley 52, around a pairof adjustable movable center pulleys 54 and 56. The movable centerpulleys 54 and 56 may be suitably supported by resilient springs or maybe suitably connected to each other through a lever spring mechanism topermit the movable center pulleys 54 and 56 to move horizontally and addor remove portions of the outer belts 30 to the effective conveyingportion of the belts. The belts 30 extend around a lower fixed idlerpulley 58 and then back to the idler 46.

A drive chain 60 indicated in dotted lines in the figures is connectedto the upper drier chain drive sprocket 26 and extends around anadjustable idler sprocket 62 that is also mounted on the frame thatsupports the large drum 32. With this arrangement the sprocket 62 moveswith and in the same direction as the frame and drum member 32 duringadjustment. The chain 60 is maintained in meshing relation with thesprocket 62 by means of a pair of spaced idler sprockets 64 and 66. Thedrive chain 60 then extends upwardly around idler sprockets 68 and 70and then around an outer belt drive sprocket that is mounted on the sameshaft and coaxial with the outer belt drive pulley 48 and thus notillustrated. The outer belt drive pulley 48 is driven by the belt drivesprocket and has the same pitch diameter as the belt drive sprocket sothat the chain rolls about the sprocket during adjustment of the beltsfor a timing or phase adjustment of the feeding of the blanks to theseparator, as later explained. The drive chain 60 extends downwardlyfrom the outer belt drive sprocket to a fixed idler sprocket 72 and thenup and around an inner belt drive sprocket that is coaxial with theinner belt drive pulley 38. Again, the inner belt drive pulley 38 isdriven by the inner belt drive sprocket and the inner belt drivesprocket is of the same pitch diameter as the inner belt drive pulley 38to permit the drive chain to compensate for the timing adjustments. Thedrive chain 60 extends downwardly around an adjustable idler sprocket 74that is mounted on the same frame as the drum 32 and is movabletherewith. A pair of idler sprockets 76 and 78 maintain the chain 60 inmeshing relation with the movable idler sprocket 74. The chain 60 thenextends downwardly back around the drive pulley 26.

An idler roll carriage 80 is pivotally secured to a support bracket 82and has a plurality of depending spring loaded adjustable rolls 84. Theend roll 86 is the adjustable idler release roll that disengages therear edge of the side flaps as the front edge is engaged by theseparator.

The separator section 16 includes a pair of rotatably mounted rolls 88and 90 that are driven in timed relation with the remaining elements ofthe envelope machine. The upper pullout roll 90 has a radially extendingpullout segment 92 that rotates into abutting relation with theperipheral surface of the lower roll 88. The pullout segment 92 isarranged to engage the front edge of the seal flap and separate theleading blank from the band of overlapped blanks. The aligner section 18is positioned adjacent to the separator section 16 and has an endlessaligner chain 94 with depending pin members 96 extending around an endsprocket 98. A coacting idler roller 100 is positioned above the alignerchain 94 and is arranged to feed the accelerated blanks against the pins96. A pair of guide rolls 102 are positioned between the separatorrollers and the aligner chain.

With this arrangement the band of overlapped blanks are conveyed fromthe drier section 12 between the upper and lower endless belts 28 and 30where the band of overlapped blanks is engaged between the endless belts28 and 30 and conveyed around the drum 32. The band of overlapped blankspasses out from under the upper belts 30 and is conveyed on the lowerbelts 28 and maintained thereon by the idler rolls 84 on the idler rollcarriage 80. The band of endless blanks is then conveyed to theseparator station 16.

The length of the envelope blank path between point A, defined by thecenter line of the lower drier chain sprocket, a point B, defined by thecenter line of the pullout rolls 88 and 90, may be varied by the abovedescribed adjustment mechanism for both timing and adjustment of theblank fed into the separator section. Vertical center lines CC and DDare illustrated in FIG. 1 for the drums 32 and 34 and the verticalcenter lines of drums in an adjusted position are illustrated by theletters EE and FF in FIG. 2. The center lines of drums 32 and 34 of FIG.1 are projected onto FIG. 2 to illustrate the direction and distance ofadjustment for both of the drums 32 and 34.

Suitable means such as longitudinal pairs of rotating screws may beconnected to both of the drums to provide the horizontal adjustmentillustrated. The pairs of horizontal screw shafts may be interconnectedtransversely across the envelope machine and further connected to amotorized rotating device through suitable shafts and gearing, as iswell known in the art. To increase the length of the path followed bythe blanks from point A to point B and thus adjust the time at which theleading edge of the leading blank moves under the pullout segment 92,the drums 32 and 34 are moved away from each other, as is illustrated inFIG. 2 by the drum adjusting means. Rearward movement of the drum 32increases the length of the paper path between points A and B. Thelength of the effective conveying portion of the outer belt is increased by the tension exerted on the spring loaded movable idler rolls54 and 56. The inner conveyor belts 28 have their effective conveyorlength increased by movement of the drum 34 away from the drum 32 tothus feed more belting into the active conveying portion of the upperbelts. Although the belt drive pulleys 38 and 48 with their coaxialchain drive sprockets are on fixed centers, the chain idler sprockets 62and 74 are movably mounted on the frame members so that when the chainsprockets are moved, for example one half inch, the effective length ofthe chain increases by 1 inch. This compensates for the double lengthextension of the conveyor belts.

it will be apparent with the above mechanism that it is now possible torapidly and easily adjust the phase or timing of the band of overlappedblanks as they are fed from the refeeder to the separator mechanism.Small and accurate adjustments can be made while the envelope makingmachine is running and the adjustment mechanism can be easily motorizedwith an open loop adjustment control for phasing of the blanks wheneither a size or fine adjustment is made.

According to the provisions of the patent statues, l have explained theprinciple, preferred construction and mode of operation of my inventionand have illustrated and described what I now consider to represent itsbest embodiment. However, I desire to have it understood that, withinthe scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practicedotherwise than as specifically illustrated and described.

We claim: 1. In an envelope or bag making machine the combinationComprising,

a first blank treating station and a second blank treating stationspaced from said first blank treating station,

conveyor means between said first station and said second station, saidconveyor means including endless conveyor belts extending around aplurality of fixed supporting devices and around a plurality of movablesupporting devices,

said conveyor means operable to deliver a band of overlapped blanks tosaid blank treating station in timed relation to the actuation of ablank engaging means in said second blank treating station, saidconveyor means hav' ing an effective conveyor portion operable to engageand convey said band of overlapped blanks,

drive means for moving said conveyor means and said band of overlappedblanks at a fixed predetermined speed,

said blank engaging means at said second blank treating station operableupon actuation to engage, separate and accelerate the leading blank fromthe moving band of overlapped blanks and feed said separated blank to asubsequent blank treating station, said blank engaging means arranged tobe actuated in a predetermined timed sequence,

a first one of said movable supporting devices supporting a portion ofsaid conveyor belts,

a second one of said movable supporting devices supporting a portion ofsaid conveyor belts, and

said second one of said movable supporting devices operable to move withsaid first one of said movable supporting devices in a directionopposite thereto to adjust the length of said conveyor belts in theeffective conveyor portion of said conveyor means and the distancetraveled by said band of envelope blanks. 2. An envelope or bag makingmachine as set forth in claim 1 in which,

said drive means for said conveyor means includes an endless conveyorchain, and means at said first blank treating station for driving saidendless chain at a fixed predetermined speed. 3. An envelope or bagmaking machine as set forth in claim 1 in which,

said drive means includes an endless conveyor chain extending around aplurality of fixed supporting devices and a plurality of movablesupporting devices means connecting said endless conveyor chain to saidendless conveyor belts for propelling said endless conveyor belts, andsaid movable supporting devices being movable with certain of saidendless conveyor belt movable supporting devices to maintain a drivingrelation between said endless conveyor chain and said endless conveyorbelts. 4. An envelope or bag making machine as set forth in claim 3 inwhich,

certain of said fixed supporting devices for said endless conveyor beltsinclude drive pulleys, certain of said fixed supporting devices for saidendless drive chain includes belt drive sprockets, and said endlesschain drive sprockets and said endless belt drive pulleys havingsubstantially the same pitch diameter. 5. An envelope or bag makingmachine as set forth in claim 4 in which,

said endless conveyor'belt drive pulleys are coaxially arranged withendless drive chain belt drive sprockets. 6. An envelope or bag makingmachine as set forth in claim 1 in which,

said endless conveyor belts include inner endless belts and outerendless belts, portions of said inner endless belts positioned inoverlying relation with portions of said outer endless belts, and saidoverlying portions of said inner and outer endless conveyor beltsforming said effective conveyor portion of said conveyor means. 7. Anenvelope or bag making machine as set forth in claim 6 in which,

said first one of said movable supporting devices supports a portion ofsaid overlying inner and outer conveyor belts, and

means to move said first one of said movable supporting devices relativeto said fixed supporting devices to thereby change the effective lengthof said conveying means. 8. An envelope or bag making machine as setforth in claim 3 in which,

said movable supporting devices of said endless chain member areassociated with said movable supporting devices of said endless conveyorbelts for movement therewith.

1. In an envelope or bag making machine the combination comprising, a first blank treating station and a second blank treating station spaced from said first blank treating station, conveyor means between said first station and said second station, said conveyor means including endless conveyor belts extending around a plurality of fixed supporting devices and around a plurality of movable supporting devices, said conveyor means operable to deliver a band of overlapped blanks to said blank treating station in timed relation to the actuation of a blank engaging means in said second blank treating station, said conveyor means having an effective conveyor portion operable to engage and convey said band of overlapped blanks, drive means for moving said conveyor means and said band of overlapped blanks at a fixed predetermined speed, said blank engaging means at said second blank treating station operable upon actuation to engage, separate and accelerate the leading blank from the moving band of overlapped blanks and feed said separated blank to a subsequent blank treating station, said blank engaging means arranged to be actuated in a predetermined timed sequence, a first one of said movable supporting devices supporting a portion of said conveyor belts, a second one of said movable supporting devices supporting a portion of said conveyor belts, and said second one of said movable supporting devices operable to move with said first one of said movable supporting devices in a direction opposite thereto to adjust the length of said conveyor belts in the effective conveyor portion of said conveyor means and the distance traveled by said band of envelope blanks.
 2. An envelope or bag making machine as set forth in claim 1 in which, said drive means for said conveyor means includes an endless conveyor chain, and means at said first blank treating station for driving said endless chain at a fixed predetermined speed.
 3. An envelope or bag making machine as set forth in claim 1 in which, said drive means includes an endless conveyor chain extending around a plurality of fixed supporting devices and a plurality of movable supporting devices means connecting said endless conveyor chain to said endless conveyor belts for propelling said endless convEyor belts, and said movable supporting devices being movable with certain of said endless conveyor belt movable supporting devices to maintain a driving relation between said endless conveyor chain and said endless conveyor belts.
 4. An envelope or bag making machine as set forth in claim 3 in which, certain of said fixed supporting devices for said endless conveyor belts include drive pulleys, certain of said fixed supporting devices for said endless drive chain includes belt drive sprockets, and said endless chain drive sprockets and said endless belt drive pulleys having substantially the same pitch diameter.
 5. An envelope or bag making machine as set forth in claim 4 in which, said endless conveyor belt drive pulleys are coaxially arranged with endless drive chain belt drive sprockets.
 6. An envelope or bag making machine as set forth in claim 1 in which, said endless conveyor belts include inner endless belts and outer endless belts, portions of said inner endless belts positioned in overlying relation with portions of said outer endless belts, and said overlying portions of said inner and outer endless conveyor belts forming said effective conveyor portion of said conveyor means.
 7. An envelope or bag making machine as set forth in claim 6 in which, said first one of said movable supporting devices supports a portion of said overlying inner and outer conveyor belts, and means to move said first one of said movable supporting devices relative to said fixed supporting devices to thereby change the effective length of said conveying means.
 8. An envelope or bag making machine as set forth in claim 3 in which, said movable supporting devices of said endless chain member are associated with said movable supporting devices of said endless conveyor belts for movement therewith. 